O.K., None of us like it, but we've all agreed that we like to breathe.

Star, I have to admit I'm like you, it does increase my appetite and then I also use it as an excuse to eat more. Every time I leave my allergist's office with a prescription for Prednisone, on the way home I stop at my favorite bakery and then my favorite deli and stock up for a few days. I figure I may as well be prepared with my favorite comfort foods when those cravings kick in. Real smart.

I guess as long as your doctor says you need it to breathe. I don't have to take it every day. I'm an on/off Prednisone person, just when my asthma flares or when I have bronchitis.

Do you have bone density tests done on a regular basis, which I think is every two years? I had mine done yesterday. You know Prednisone Queens like us need to do that.

I am 56 now and it does frighten me to think about what the long term use of Prednisone is going to do to my body that it hasn't already done. But, what do we do? I really like to breathe and I think you do also. I wish they would come up with something else for us when it gets really bad other than Prednisone.

I am new to this board but I can relate to alot of prednisone. I have asthma for almost 12 years now but the last 6 years have been the worse. Seebee, I can relate to how you are feeling because I have had 2 very long bouts of having to be on prednisone one for 4 months straight and another time for 7 months straight. It has so many side effects but eventually it does help the breathing. I have only been on it for afew days this time so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

lothianjavert, Welcome to HealingWell. You've been on Prednisone for six months straight? That's terrible. I'm glad you're down to 20 mg. now. I truly don't know how you have handled it for six months. I probably wouldn't have a friend left. I do have a good friend who has to take Prednisone for another disease, she gets the weight gain, but it doesn't keep her awake at night or any of the other evil side effects. I'm with you, it makes me crazy. Have you ever had to have it by IV? Now that really makes you wild.

The side effects aren't nearly as bad at 20 mg as they were at the higher dose! I still feel them though, but now I'm just a moody *^% instead of a lunatic! My poor husband has been so patient, though I know it's wearing on him too. (A while back I blew up about something, and he quipped "so, when's your head going to start spinning around" -- it actually helped defuse me and had me laughing, since on the pred. I tend to blow up at stupid little things... or cry over stupid little things...)

The insomnia was awful from about 100 mg/ down to 30 mg. I'm still struggling with it, but it's definitely a lot better now that the dose is lower. I've also gone from too sick to my stomach to eat much, to now wanting to eat every darned thing in sight. I swear, I can't get enough cheese. I really, really, really am craving cheese. Mozarrella, feta, blue cheese, chevre cheese.. .any good cheese...

I hate being on the pred, but I know it's a real life saver. Without it, I'm sure I'd be dead. I have had it via IV many times during ER visits/hospital stays for bad attacks, and yeah, it's awful via IV. But again, it's probably saved my life.

I'm hoping that things stabilize and I can come off of the pred soon and get back to being normal. At least for now I can breathe! I don't know how people that have to be on it really long term can deal with it. In the grand scheme of things, 6 months isn't long, but some people have to take it for years, or are on it permanently. I'm not sure I could handle that!

Prednisone - yep. What a trip! During chemo, I had IV dexamathelesone (or something like that) and the first chemo, I was awake for 30 hours! Subsequent (next three) were better, but yep, I ate everything in site. Cravings? Coulda been the pred, but...maybe the chemo too. Remember one week when all I wanted (and could keep down) was Mounds bars (grin).

At any rate, I'm back on it now at 20 mg/day for breathing (COP) and the main side-effect is diabetes type II (but use insulin). I found out I had it when I was hospitalized for a COPD flare in September and my blood glucose was over 138 (random). For a week, I tested my blood myself (had an old glucometer) which showed it stayed well over 100, called up my family doc, and the rest is history - he put me on pred, and an endo put me on amaryl. It's under PRETTY good control. I still get at least ONE reading/day over 200 (the last few days - well, I had a pain pump implanted for severe chronic back pain, my sugars have been high and variable, but that happens with fevers and stress too)

Anyone ON prednisone (and i never noticed this on any of the postings) MUST be tested for diabetes. Have your doc do an accu-check next time you go into his office. If the random reading (unless you, like me, sip on cappucino on the way into the doc) is over 130, have him do an A1C and a fasting. If THAT is up, then... But you can have diabetes without knowing it - especially type II! There are few symptoms (fatigue for me, but that's plagued me for other reasons for YEARS) that are noticeable immediately, but high sugars do do damage to your system. I didn't know it! You might not either :)

Welcome to HealingWell! We are certainly glad to have you join us. Your warning is a good one. I take Prednisone for asthma, but my endocrinologist who treats me for hypothyroidism also keeps a close check on my blood sugar. Thank you so much for bringing that to our attention.

I hope you are doing well, it sounds like you have several health issues. Please keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

There's actually a good book about dealing with having to take Prednisone, called "Coping With Prednisone." This book explains the side-effects of Prednisone, and then gives tips for how to adjust your daily lifestyle to reduce the impact of the side-effects.

I have been on prednisone since March of 2007, at the dose of 50/mg, a day (to treat uncontrolled anaphylaxis). After a few months, we decided to try and taper. We got to about 30/mg a day when things started to act up, and tapering was then on a stand still for the time being. The symptoms I was dealing with were not to bad, a bit of weight gain and sleep issues, but nothing I could not handle. The next couple months went fine. Then all of a sudden I had an anaphylactic episode went to the ER on Dec. 4th,they then admitted for 16 days straight, with mutliple idiopathic anaphylactic reactions a day. During the first couple days I was kept on the prednisone, which was brought backed up to 50mg, then all of a sudden they switched to dexamethasone. Dexamethasone is pretty much the same as prednisone, but holy crap... the symptoms are MUCH worse... at least this is what happened to me in a two month period. My face is now the classic moon face (although I think it looks more like a cabbage patch dolls face, haha), I gain another 10-15lbs, my skin is extremely thin, and HURTS, feels like a contasnt sunburn, I have to douse my body in cocobutter just to feel relief, I now have stretch marks (not the small little ones either, HUGE purple ones)and they are in the weirdest spots, like the inside of the calf, knee, top of thigh etc., lost half my hair, MAJOR mood swings, muscle wasting, bone pain, feel like I'm 90 when trying to get up from a down position, waking up every 3 hrs, night sweats, lots of peeing, high blood pressure, high blood sugars (waiting for other lab tests from drs.). And the worst part, I'm still having reactions!!! BUT!!! We are now coming of the dexamethasone, tapering once again. Fingers crossed it goes well!

When I started this thread, I thought others would like to vent about Prednisone. I'm glad you got it out and feel better.

O.K., I'm back. I had to go look in the mirror to see if my face looks like a cabbage patch doll. You may be on to something there. But, we have to look on the bright side; we're alive and able to vent.

Hi:) Had to up the pred but am working down and on 30mg a day then 2mg and hopefully I can get to the 1mg in a week. Gees, try being on pred and have pred induced diabetes and not being able to EAT!! I am starving all the time. Eating like a rabbit while on pred is so depressing. The good is I am losing so much weight while on the pred. That is really new for me.

CeeBee, I'm glad you're losing weight. I know that has to be hard when you are on Prednisone. Are you just going to the grocery and eating your way through the vegetable section? Just kidding. I would be going crazy trying to do that on Prednisone, but you have no choice. I am so proud of you for being able to do it, my friend. You deserve an award!

Better than the grocery store....the BUFFET:) I hit the salad bar and there goes the lettuce, all the mushrooms, all the cauliflower, radishes, olives and cheese:) Yummy! Only in my dreams do sugar plums dance!

hi everyone...i am so sorry you are on prednisilone to control your asthma and allergies. I LIVE IN UK and we have a yearly flu injection.life long pneumonia injection and 2 yearly bronchitus injection...which has kept me off the prednisilone for over 2 years...why dont your doctors use preventative medications so you can get better control of your asthma...it is cheaper in the long run.....and the asthma sufferers have a better quality of life.....be happy out there...love wendy in uk.

My allergist has told me that they are held back here on the treatments they can give asthma patients versus what doctors can do in England. She thinks it's crazy. Now I see what's she's talking about.

CeeBee, I would kill for a bronchitis vaccine, wouldn't you? That one shot could keep us from having to take a lot of our Prednisone.

We do get the flu shot here and I think we can get a pneumonia shot also.

I get the flu and pneumonia shots but would be running to be first for the bronchitis shot. I was diagnosed with pred induced diabetes and the asthma is so much better with the diabetes in control. I know while it was undiagnosed for up to two years, it contributed to my breathing problems. When you KNOW something is wrong and the doctor pushed it aside, run to a new doctor fast.

I am on a taper regime of prednisone following a respiratory infection that exacerbated my asthma. The URI is gone, thank goodness, but I still have a week left on the pred. This is the longest I have had to be on pred and it is dealing me fits. Some days I am energetic and feeling good but others I am exhausted and sore. Today is one of the down days. I am so tired yet I can't seem to sleep. It has elevated my pulse rate and my blood sugar. I have a followup visit with the pulmonologist next Wednesday and I will be off the pred then too. It's been a rough ride though.